Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) Printers
Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) printers are compact industrial coding systems used to print high-resolution text, barcodes, QR codes, logos, and expiry dates directly onto packaging and products.
They use cartridge-based ink technology, where the ink and printhead are contained in a single replaceable cartridge. This design makes TIJ printers clean, easy to maintain, and simple to operate, making them a popular choice for many production environments.
TIJ printers are commonly used for carton coding, label printing, and secondary packaging across industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and logistics.
How TIJ Printing Works
TIJ printers use thermal technology inside the ink cartridge to eject microscopic droplets of ink onto the surface of a product or package.
Small heating elements inside the cartridge rapidly heat the ink to form a bubble, which pushes a droplet of ink through the nozzle and onto the material being printed.
Because the printhead is built into the cartridge, replacing the cartridge effectively provides a new printhead each time, helping maintain consistent print quality.
Full-colour printing
directly on products or packaging
High-resolution
graphics and logos
Variable data printing
different information on each item
Non-contact printing
for delicate or uneven surfaces
Eliminates the need
for pre-printed packaging
Typical Uses
TIJ printers are commonly used to print:
- Expiry and best-before dates
- Batch and lot numbers
- Barcodes and QR codes
- Product identification codes
- Logos and small graphics
They are particularly well suited to carton coding and secondary packaging applications where high print quality is required.